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Gear Review
MFD Alltime AT Binding
Great if you don't mind the weight
By Matthew Tabrys
Ranked #5 - Alpine Touring Bindings
October 23, 2011
As people are venturing into the backcountry more and more, people are skiing gnarlier and sketchier lines, and sending bigger and bigger cliffs. Because of the high risk, people want to have the most durable and dependable gear on their feet. What's more trustworthy than your burly all metal alpine bindings than you slay the resorts with. Nothing, right? Now you have a device that let's you tour the backcountry while still enjoying your trusted alpine bindings. So this type of product is the obvious choice for those venturing into the backcountry. You get to use your alpine bindings and tour on them, without getting new bindings or new boots. Great, right? Not really.
Here's the problem, if you want to ski your alpine bindings out of bounds and in the backcountry, there's already a product out there that let's you do that. BCA's Alpine Trekkers are over $100 cheaper, and 2 lbs 8 ozs per pair are just a hair lighter too. In addition, trekkers are portable and removable. If you're only skiing at the resort that day, you're not stuck with an extra 3 lbs on your ski. If you're touring, when you get to the top, trekkers are removed and put in your pack, once again relieving your feet of an extra 3 lbs. There's an old addage in bc skiing that says a pound on your feet is equivalent to five on your back. Yes, the weight does add up. In addition to all of that, since the all time is always mounted to your ski you have to deal with flex issues too. You have a huge metal plate mounted in the sweet spot of the ski. Now instead of the ski being able to flex naturally and bend into a c shape when you are flexing it, the flex isn't as round anymore due to the shape and mounting of the plate.
Problem number is two is there are now plenty of bomber bindings designed for skiing in the backcountry. The Marker Duke, the Salomon Guardian, and the Atomic Tracker are all 16 din bindings with some metal in the construction that have equal similar performance to your alpine bindings, wiht a tour function equal to if not with a better stride than the MFD alltime. Depending on your binding choice too, these offerings are going to be lighter as well. Not to mention these are actual bindings only slightly more expensive than the MFD Alltime which requires the purchase of an alpine binding.
While the MFD is a great idea for those who spend time both in and out of bounds, who love their trusted alpine bindings, there are several problems with it. Unfortunately it arrived late to the show and is already obsolete. Problem 1) Does what a trekker does but is heavier, more expensive and cannot be removed from the ski. Problem 2) Better products already exist i.e. The BCA Trekker, The Marker Duke, The Salomon Guardian, and The Atomic Tracker. Problem 3) It's size, shape, rigidness and the way it's mounted inhibits the natural flex of the ski.
5 or 6 years ago, this product would've revolutionized the industry and dominated the market. Unfortunately, in one of the fastest growing markets in skiing, there are too many other options that are much better in every regard.
View Details: MFD Alltime AT Binding
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Change me.
5 Comments Last Reply: February 16, 2012 By: Ben Givens
thanks Chris...... agreed
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
@ Matthew Tabrys: First, I want to thank you for sharing your perspective. I believe getting a variety of feedbacks is very helpful in picking the right gear that is suitable for each individual. We all don't look for the same thing out of these equipments. Having said that, I was about to pull the trigger on the MFD to installment on my new Line Opus (185) with Look Pivot 14. I don't mind the weight because this is not the set up I have in mind for long tours. What is a major concern for me is the extent that the MFD is going to have on the ski's neutral flex. So, I was considering getting the BCA's Alpine Trekkers but then as I was doing more research, I came across this review: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-review
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
@ Chris Jenney: First off, my title says "Great if you don't mind the weight," because I do think they are great, but extremely heavy. So if you don't mind the weight, then, yes, this is a good option for you. Second, as I stated in my review, 1 pound on your foot equates to about 5 on your back. This means that it is better to have the weight on your back than on your feet. If you are using the mfd all time, chances are you have room in your pack as you're not going on an extended tour or overnight. So that argument doesn't hold any water. I agree, trekkers aren't the best to tour in (I wrote that about them in my review of them), but at least they're not permanently attached to your skis. Third, other bindings do have plates, this is true, but the MFD all time extends passed the toe piece and passed the heel piece, creating what for me felt like a bigger dead zone than on the dukes. Fourth, I have used them, they were available last season and I skied them on a friend's skis. What I wrote was based on my impression of using them. And I stand by everything I say. They are heavy. I do think the Duke is a better and cheaper option. And I do think that if you are set on using your alpine bindings in the bc, trekkers are a lighter, cheaper option. Finally, as an avid backcountry skier, former backcountry.com employee, and customer of your place of employment, I find it distasteful, uncalled for, and extremely stupid on your part to make assumptions about my use of products, my knowledge of gear, and to insult me in writing on your employer's web page. If you disagree with my opinion, that's fine. Disagree, and prove me wrong. Don't throw up half-witted insults and ridiculous assumptions without backing any of it up with evidence. @ Lee, yes I have skied them, and was not a fan. If you want to ski your alpine bindings, I think the trekker is a cheaper, lighter option. If you want a one stop shop, I think the duke is a lighter, cheaper option as well. The MFD is a great design, and if it came out a few years ago, it would have been mind blowing. But for $300 and an additional 2.5+ pounds, in today's bc market, I think there are better, cheaper, and lighter options.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
this is one of the worst reviews ever. Lets see... trekkers, you take the weight off your feet and put it directly on your back once you get to the top. This takes up precious pack space and adds weight to your pack. Trekkers arent the best to tour in, you wouldnt know this becuase it sounds like youve never ventured into the backcountry. The duke guardian etc does the same thing to the ski flex. They are mounted on a plate... sooooo.... you get the flat spot. With the dukes and other oturing bindings you are also a good cm or more above the ski. This plate you are flush to it. This is probably the best invention for bc touring while still clicking into your normal bindings. To say otherwise is done. Dont review things that you havent used. I highly doubt that you step out of bounds more than twice a year and you're probably a risk while out there.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Matthew, have you skied on the MFD Alltime? I think the heel block floats to allow the ski to flex.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes